She'd known, from the moment the girl removed her helmet. While the other knights had commented on their similarities, that was not what she'd seen. No there was something else that the others had missed and now it was time to seek answers.
After dismissing the guards, stating she needed some privacy to think, Arturia stood alone in one of Camelot's many gardens. Under the light of the full moon the garden truly was a sight to behold, so different from during the day, but she had not come here to gaze at the beauty of the garden.
"I know you are here, sister" Her eyes sweep the shadows, searching for any sign of her sister. "Come out and speak with me"
Silence reigned for several moments before a figure stepped out of the shadows across from Arthuria. A blue and black crown sits upon a head of pale blonde, almost white in the moon light, hair. Her face is covered by a black vail, but Arturia already knew what lay beneath it. The black dress that she wears is both elegant and alluring with its low-cut chest and exposed stomach design that shows off the magical brand running down the center of Morgan's body.
"My this is an honour" a voice that has probably seduced many does little to conceal the venom behind each word "Summons from the great king herself. What can this humble citizen of the crown do for you, my liege?"
With a bow even more mocking than her words, Morgan smirks at her sister for she knows that no matter what, Arturia would never strike her down. And yet she did not receive the reaction she hoped for. No biting words or empty threats. No instead her sister merely stands there, eyes shadowed by her hair, ever the image of the untouchable king.
Fury burns through Morgan's veins and she unleashes the fury upon Arturia. "Nothing to say? You called me here and now you have nothing? Do you think just because you are Merlin's little chosen pet that you can simply toy with others?! Speak your pointless words, sister, so that I may take my leave!"
"Has your hatred of my truly grown so much, sister?" The quiet, almost broken tone in place of the usual regal and charming voice halted Morgan's tirade. "Is your hatred so great that you would do this?"
Arturia raises her head to lock eyes with Morgan and her sister visibly recoils at the pain hidden in her eyes. Striding forward, the younger daughter of Uther approaches her sister who tries to move back away from her but Arturia catches Morgan by her right wrist and holds her in place.
"I know what you have done, Morgan" raise her free hand, Arturia removes the vail. Taking a moment to look upon the beautiful face, so like her own and yet so different. "I know who she is"
Eyes, the colour of opals, widen in shock. "What, what are you talking about?"
"Mordred" Morgan's breath catches in her throat and she knows that there is no point in lying. "I know who and what she is. Has your hatred of me grown so much that you would use an innocent girl against me?"
To regain some control over the situation, Morgan adopts a haughty look and speaks in a demeaning tone. "So, the stupid thing removed her helmet? Even after I ordered her not to? Pathetic. And an innocent girl? Hardly, she is nothing but a homunculus"
"She is our child!" The words echo around the near empty garden and Morgan is rendered silent by the outburst. Hands placed on her sister's shoulders, Arturia looks down at the ground. "Congratulations, sister. You have hurt me in a way no other has even done before. You have given me something I have longed for and even moment with her is like a dagger to the heart!"
"A-Arturia…I…" she should be happy, shouldn't she? To see her sister in such pain and anguish. Than why? Why didn't it feel like a victory? Before she could say more, Arthuria cut her off with a very important question.
"Does she know?" She needed to know the answer. She had to know. "Does she know that I am her…her father?"
"No, no she doesn't" Not yet anyway. But now, looking at the broken expression on her sister's face, Morgan can't help but feel this might have been a mistake. "I hadn't planned on telling her, yet"
Relief washes over Arturia and she quickly tries to rebuild her composure. "That…that is good. It is for the best that she does not know. She…I can't be what she wants from me"
"You mean you can't be her father? Why? Is the great king Arturia too good to be the father of a homunculus?" Anger once more courses through Morgan. How typical of her sister to act like she is better than others, that she is above them.
"I'm a monster, Morgan" Everything ground to a halt. Staring at Arthuria with horror, she couldn't understand how she could say that. Morgan was a monster, not Arturia.
*SLAP*
The sound rings throughout the garden and Arturia holds her, rapidly reddening, cheek in shock. Morgan lowers her hand and glares at her sister. "I can't believe what I am hearing. Do you honestly believe yourself to be a monster? You are an idiot"
Stepping forward, Morgan does the unexpected and hugs her sister. Arturia stiffens at the connect, unsure how to react to such a simple act of kindness. "you are not a monster. You have done so much good for the people and this land. A monster would never do any of that" Resting her chin on Arturia's shoulder, Morgan allows herself a moment to enjoy the feel, warmth and unique scent of her sister's body.
Feeling a pair of arms slowly wrap around her waist, Morgan freezes for a moment before sinking further into Arturia's embrace. "I can't remember the last time we shared a moment like this"
"I can" the sound of Arturia's voice whispered so closely to her ears causes a shiver to run down Morgan's back. "The night we shared that most likely lead to Mordred's creation"
Pulling back slightly, Morgan looks up into her sister's eyes. "H-how? I…you...you shouldn't remember that night. I charmed you, used you, made sure you wouldn't remember?"
"But I do remember. I remember everything" Eyes locked, Arturia slowly closes the distance between the pair. "For all your power, all your abilities, your magic has always seemed to work less on me, and for that I'm thankful. Because it allowed us to share something that no one else can"
Their lips touch and everything fades away. Nothing else matters at that time other than the two women sharing a special moment together in private. After what felt like eternity, they separate and stare into each other's eyes.
"Arturia?" Morgan is gently silenced when Arthuria places a finger on her lips.
"Until the light of the morning sun crests the heights tower of this castle, we shall be who we truly wish to be, rather than what we are expected to be" Kissing her once more, Arturia gently lowers Morgan down onto the grass. "I love you, Morgan Le Fay"
Smiling sadly and cupping Arturia's face with her hands. "I love you as well, Arturia Pendragon"
Under the watchful gaze of the heavens, the two sisters once more give in to the love they both feel for one another and join in a forbidden act.
*Omake *
The next morning, when the knights of the round arrive in the banquet hall for breakfast.
Arturia: good morning, my knights *calmly eats her own...substantial meal *
Gawain: *gulps nervously * g-good morning, my king. You...um...you look...different today
Arturia: *pauses and looks at the knights, who are all staring at her in shock and, if she is not mistaken, Mordred is patting down her own chest in sorrow * Is there something wrong with my appearance
Gawain: n-n-no! N-not at all, it's just not common to see you looking so...so
Lancelot: voluptuous
Gawain: *glares at his fellow knight while Arthuria merely raises an eyebrow *
Overnight their king had gone from looking like a teenager to that of a mature young woman, her normally form fitting armour looked to be struggling to contain her much…larger frame.
Arturia: *finishes her meal and stands up * there is nothing to worry about. Now, all of you enjoy your morning meal, I need to speak with the smithy about something *calmly leaves the hall, only once out of sight of her knights does she allow any sign of pain to appear on her face as she struggles with her much tighter chest plate * damn you Morgan!